Nautilus Returns to South Beach Following Major Restoration

MIAMI BEACH—Nautilus, a SIXTY Hotel, opened today following a major restoration by real estate development and investment firm Quadrum Global and partner InSite Group.

The 250-key Nautilus will now operate as SIXTY Collective’s newest hotel. The two firms purchased the hotel as a distressed property in 2011.

Looking to restore the building to its original 1950s splendor, Quadrum and InSite preserved various elements of famed architect Morris Lapidus’ neo-Baroque style. Such elements included the reconstruction of the porte cochere; 25-foot lobby ceilings; the noted Staircase to Nowhere, beveled windows like the curved wall of glass blocks at the hotel entrance; teal green tile that’s reminiscent of the original tower; and the legendary Driftwood Room supper club, where Ralph Font And His Orchestra helped ignite the worldwide cha-cha craze.

“Miami Beach is world-renowned for its hotels, entertainment and nightlife, and the demand for rooms in walking distance from the heart of South Beach will always be strong,” stated Oleg Pavlov, Quadrum Global’s CEO.

Ben Shmul, President of InSite Group, added: “The Nautilus was such an important part of Miami Beach’s history. We have been privileged with the opportunity to restore a landmark property to its original character and present the market with a truly unique experience, one that harkens back to Miami Beach’s first golden age while immersing the visitor in the suave panache of the contemporary city.”

Hotel amenities include a 1,890-square-foot heated salt-water pool with underwater sound system, a 24-hour health-club-quality fitness center and a retail boutique where various brand collaborations will rotate throughout the year. In addition to the Driftwood Room (a ground floor, lobby bar), guests and visitors will be able to dine or enjoy cocktails at the Nautilus Cabana Club, a dining room, outdoor deck, cabana-lined poolside retreat, pool bar, backyard, and 200-seat signature restaurant helmed by famed “iron chef” Alex Guarnaschelli and operated by China Grill Management.

“From the day we acquired the property and began to reposition it, our goal has been to recreate the sense of liveliness that once filled Nautilus’ halls and common areas,” stated Seth Schumer, Quadrum’s head of U.S. investment. “While the aesthetics and finishes will set the perfect tone, the Driftwood Room and the Nautilus Cabana Club will provide the energy a hotel needs in order to thrive in Miami Beach.”

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